Raceway-type stud insert shield for electrical conductors, and the like



Oct. 12, 1965 R. J. CLOS RACEWAY-TYPE STUD INSERT SHIELD FOR ELECTRICCONDUGTORS, AND THE LIKE Filed April 10, 1964 INVENTOR. REA E J CZQS BYw AUORA/E'Y United States Patent RACEWAY-TYPE srun INSERT SHIELD FORELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, AND THE LIKE Rene J. Clos, Battle Creek, Mich.,assignor to International Oil Burner Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser, No. 358,882 7 Claims.(Cl. 174-48) The present invention relates generally to a racewaytypeshield for electrical conductors and the like, to be inserted in wallstuds of mobile homes, and more particularly to a one-piece shieldhaving integral anchoring means.

In the construction of hollow walls for mobile homes, the exterior wallsheet, usually metal sheets such as aluminum, and the interior sheets,which may be a decorative interior sheet of plywood, are secured bymeans of nails, staples, screws, and the like, to closely spaced woodenstuds which support and substantially reinforce the walls. Electricalconductors are customarily installed within the walls by stringing themthrough notched-out grooves provided in the studs.

Because of the close spacing of the wooden studs, it is diificult tobore holes through them in the direction in which the electricalconductors are to be strung. Therefore, to expedite assembly of walls, arouting tool is passed over the inside surface of the wooden studs,thereby providing the notched-out grooves which receive the electricalwires.

To prevent randomly spaced nails staples, and the like, from piercingthe insulation of the electrical conductors and short circuiting them,it has been found that sheet metal shields may advantageously beinserted in the notched-out grooves to protect the conductors. However,if tubular shields were used, they could be inserted in the notched-outgrooves only before the wires were strung therethrough. The resultingthreading operation was thus extremely time consuming. Another problemwas that the notched-out grooves were not uniform in their dimensionsand the tolerances between the grooves and shields resulted in theshields slipping from the grooves before the structural sheets could befastened to the studs. To overcome this problem, some time-consumingmethod might be required to affix the shields to the studs.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a novel shield forelectrical conductors adapted to be readily inserted in a vertical-sidedstud over which a structural sheet is to be fastened. Among the specificobjects is the provision of a metal shield having sufficient structuralstrength to prevent penetration by fasteners, which may be readilymanufactured as a one-piece member with integral anchoring means; ashield which on installation is positively anchored to a Wooden studregardless of tolerances therebetween; and which may readily be hammeredinto a vertical-sided stud after the electircal conductors to be housedtherein have been strung through notchedout grooves in the stud.

In the present invention these purposes (as well as others apparentherein) are achieved generally by providing a one-piece shield of theraceway, or open channel type, adapted to be inserted in avertical-sided stud over which a structural sheet is to be fastened. Theshield consists of an elongated sheet metal strip of sufiicientstructural strength to prevent penetration by the sheet fasteners,having two substantially right angle bends which join two substantiallyparallel-extending flanges to a common bottom wall, thereby presenting agenerally U-shaped cross-section. The shield is further provided with anintegral sheet metal tab depending from one end of the bottom wall. Thisdepending tab has an integrally pointed cleat extending substantiallyperpendicular there- "ice from, pointing inwardly of the end of thebottom wall. The depending tab and the pointed cleat positively anchorthe one-piece shield to the stud.

Utilization of the invention will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from the disclosure made in the following detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet metal layout of the raceway-type shieldof the present invention, the construction lines I, m, and n indicatingthe fold lines thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the shield showing itsconfiguration after the bending operations along the fold lines havebeen performed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shield of FIG. 2 taken along theline 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a vertical-sidedstud having a notched-out groove into which electrical conductors andthe shield of the present invention are inserted, and to which the innerand outer wall structural sheets have been attached by fasteners; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield of the present inventionshowing a modified attachment means therefor.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1, the flat sheet metal layout for a one pieceraceway-type shield, generally designated 10. The sheet layout is anelongated metal strip of suflicient structural strength to preventpenetration by commonly employed fasteners used to attach the structuralsheets to wall studs in mobile homes. It has been found that 16 gaugecold rolled steel will prevent penetration by such fasteners.

. The elongated sheet metal strip of FIG. 1 is bent along the fold linesI to form the two substantially right angle bends 12 and 14, shown bestin FIG. 3. The right angle bends 12 and 14 join the two substantiallyparallel-extending flanges 16 and .18 to a common flat bottom wall 20.As can be seen in FIG. 3, the shield 10 takes on a generally U-shapedcross-section provided by the right angle bends 12 and 14.

Means integral with the bottom wall 20 of the onepiece shield areprovided for anchoring it securely to a vertical side of the studreferred to hereinabove. This integral anchoring means comprises a sheetmetal tab 22 and a pointed cleat 24. The sheet metal tab 22 is integralwith that portion of the elongated metal strip which forms the bottomwall 20 of the shield. Upon bending this tab 22 along the fold line m,it depends from one end of the bottom Wall 20 to spacedly position thepointed cleat 24 therebelow. The pointed cleat 24 which provides themeans for attaching the shield 10 to the stud, is integral with thesheet metal tab 22, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Upon bending the cleat 24along the fold line n, it extends substantially perpendicularly from thetab 22 and inwardly of the end of the bottom wall 20.

The depending ab 22, as shown in FIG. 3 is preferably positioned nearerthe flange which on installation, will be adjacent to the outer end ofthe notched-out groove in which the shield 10 is to be installed. Ashere illustrated, the tab 22 is positioned nearer the flange 16 than theflange 18, with the pointed cleat 24 positioned on the inner side edge25 of the tab 22. By so positioning the depending tab 22 and pointedcleat 24, easy access is had to the outer side of the tab, therebypermitting it to be hammered into the stud. Also by positioning thepointed cleat along the vertical plane a-a lying midway between theflanges 16 and 18, its tendency to misalign within the grooves uponhammering (as might be the case where the pointed cleat was notsymmetrically located) is lessened. However the depending tab may belocated at -studs permits easy access thereto.

hollow wall of a mobile home.

any other suitable position where the space between the Also, thepointed cleat 24 may be positioned to either side of the plane aaprovided there will be a sufficient bite without splitting the woodenstud. In other words, the pointed cleat 24 should be positionedsufficiently inward of the flange 16 so that When hammered into thewooden stud, it will not split it.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a shield similar to that ofFIGS. 1-3 but having a modified anchoring means. Here the depending tab22 of the shield is provided with a pair of integral pointed cleats 24which extend symmetrically with respect to the edges 26 and 28. Thesetabs extend inwardly of the one end of the bottom wall 20. The dependingtab 22 as shown in FIG. 5 also has a third integral sheet metal cleat 30which extends from the horizontal bottom edge 31 of the tab 22 andinwardly of the one end of the bottom wall 20. This modified anchoringmeans which includes the two symmetrically positioned pointed cleats 24'and may include the third cleat 30, has the advantage of resistingtwisting moments which might be imparted to the shield 10 by tugging onthe electrical conductors after they have been inserted therein. Thesymmetrically disposed tabs 24 reinforce each other to resist suchmoments and assure positive attachment of the shield 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4 to illustrate the manner of installation, thereis shown a wooden stud 32 used in a This stud 32 is provided with anotched-out groove 34 into which the electrical conductors 36 arestrung. After the wires 36 have been strung through the groove 34, theraceway-type shield 10 is inserted by slipping it from below, around theconductors 36. The shield 10 is then positioned within the notched-outgroove 34 with the pointed cleat 24 contacting the surface of thevertical-sided stud at tab 22 and substantially perpendicularly from theside its pointed end. The other end of the cleat 24 and the tab 22 areexposed for hammering. Hammering drives the pointed cleat 24 into thewooden stud 32 to positively anchor the shield 10 therein. Next theinner and outer structural sheets 38 and 40 are attached to the woodenstud 32 by randomly driven nails, staples, screws or the like, asindicated generally at 42. Any fastener which is driven toward theelectrical conductor 36 will be diverted by the raceway-type shield 10.

From the foregoing disclosure it may be seen that the present inventionprovides a unique raceway-type shield for electrical conductors whichmay be readily inserted into wooden studs and anchored positivelythereto without the necessity of additional fasteners.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. For example, manycombinations of pointed cleats 24 and their positioning along one edgeof the shield 10 may be envisioned. It is therefore to be understoodthat, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A one-piece shield for electrical conductors adapted to be insertedin a vertical-sided stud over which a strucural sheet is to be fastened,comprising an elongated-sheet metal strip of sufficient structuralstrength to prevent penetration by the sheet fasteners, said metalhaving two substantially right angle bends therein, said bends joiningtwo substantially parallel-extending flanges to a common bottom wall,

l substantially perpendicularly from the side edges of said tab andinwardly of said one end of said bottom wall.

2. A one-piece shield for electrical conductors adapted to be insertedin a vertical-sided stud over which a structural sheet is to befastened, comprising an elongated sheet metal strip of sufficientstructural strength to prevent penetration by the sheet fasteners, saidmetal strip having two substantially right angle bends therein, saidbends joining two substantially parallel-extending flanges to a commonbottom wall, whereby a generally U-shaped cross-section is provided, and

' means integral with said bottom wall for anchoring said one-pieceshield securely to a vertical side of such stud, said means comprising asheet metal tab integral with said bottom wall and depending from oneend thereof, and

attachment means integral therewith.

3. The one-piece shield of claim 2, wherein said anchoring meansintegral with said depending tab comprises a pointed cleat extendingsubstantially perpendicular therefrom and inwardly of said one end ofsaid bottom wall.

4. The one-piece shield of claim 3, wherein said pointed cleat ispositioned in a vertical plane lying midway between said flanges.

5. A one-piece shield of claim 3, wherein said sheet metal tab integralwith said bottom wall is positioned nearer one said flange than theother said flange, and said pointed cleat extends inwardly from one sideof said tab.

6. A one-piece shield for electrical conductors adapted to be insertedin a vertical-sided stud over which a structural sheet is to befastened, comprising an elongated sheet metal strip of sufficientstructural strength to prevent penetration by the sheet fasteners, saidmetal strip having two substantially right angle bends therein, saidbends joining two substantially parallel extending flanges to a commonbottom wall whereby a generally U-shaped cross-section is provided,

a sheet metal tab integral with one end of said bottom wall anddepending therefrom, and having a horizontal bottom edge, and a sheetmetal cleat integral with said depending tab and extending from saidbottom edge in a direction inwardly of one end of said bottom wall.

7. A one-piece shield for electrical conductors adapted to be insertedin a vertical-sided stud over which a structural sheet is to befastened, comprising an elongated sheet metal strip of sufficientstructural strength to prevent penetration by the sheet fasteners, saidmetal strip having two substantially right angle bends therein, saidbends joining two substantially parallel extending flanges to a commonbottom wall whereby a generally U-shaped crosssection is provided,

a sheet metal tab integral with one end of said bottom wall anddepending therefrom, and having verticalside edges and a horizontalbottom edge, and

three sheet metal cleats integral with said depending tab and extendinginwardly of one edge of said bottom wall, two of said pointed cleatsbeing symmetrical about a vertical plane lying midway between said twoflanges and at the same level and extending from said side edges, theother of said three pointed cleats extending from said bottom edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,000 4/38Abbott l7448 JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner. DARRELL L. CLAY, Examiner.

1. A ONE-PIECE SHIELD FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS ADAPTED TO BE INSERTEDIN A VERTICAL-SIDED STUD OVER WHICH A STRUCURAL SHEET IS TO BE FASTENED,COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHEET METAL STRIP OF SUFFICIENT STRUCTURALSTRENGTH TO PREVENT PENETRATION BY THE SHEET FASTENERS, SAID METALHAVING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLE BENDS THEREIN, SAID BENDS JOININGTWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL-EXTENDING FLANGES TO A COMMON BOTTOM WALL,WHEREBY A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION IS PROVIDED, AN INTEGRALSHEET METAL TAB DEPENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID TABHAVING VERTICAL-SIDE EDGES, AND A PAIR OF POINTED CLEATS INTEGRAL WITHSAID DEPENDING TAB, SAID POINTED CLEATS EXTENDING SYMMETRICALLY ANDSUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID TAB ANDINWARDLY OF SAID ONE END OF SAID BOTTOM WALL.